The Stan travelled to deepest County Durham & delivered a battling & committed performance against the league leaders. Although it was looking like the Stan could at least get a draw, especially after tactical changes made by Dean & his team, Newton Aycliffe showed why they are top of the league by forcing a win in the later stages of the match. There were 2 changes from last Saturday. New signing from Consett, Declan Bisset, replaced Louis Anderson who has left the club to go travelling while Lashley replaced the injured Hornsby.

Both teams started positively although the 1st clear effort was by the home side when they shot wide after 4 minutes. Jake Turnbull was having to work hard as a right wing back & he made a good tackle to clear in 9 minutes. Newton were now looking more potentially dangerous but the Stan got their 1st clear effort in 9 minutes when a Lashley speculative long range effort was caught awkwardly by the keeper. After some more home pressure, Lamb countered but the home keeper got to the ball 1st. 

Newton Aycliffe were ahead after 12 minutes when a ball from a corner was cleared but it was flicked back towards goal & tapped in at the far post by a home player on the goal line who managed to get his foot up high but also appeared offside. Purvis had to catch the ball 2 minutes later & 4 minutes after that another home attack resulted in a  shot going wide. Newton then sent a ball across the Stan goal line but no one was there to make contact. 

After 18 minutes, the Stan changed from 5 at the back, including 2 wing backs, to 4-4-2 and the change seemed to benefit the team & slow down the opposition advances almost immediately. In 22 minutes Stephenson, who was now in midfield rather than left back, saw his shot easily caught. There were still not many Stan opportunities but the chances for the home team had also reduced greatly. 

In 29 minutes, Newton did get a corner from which the ball was missed by all their players & went out for another corner. Slaughter then initially headed clear but the ball came back in & was headed over the bar by a home player. Lamb then won the ball & advanced up field but the move ended with Stephenson shooting high over the bar. The Stan were getting more into the game & in 36 minutes the home keeper had to punch clear from a Stephenson ball & Lamb’s follow up effort was also cleared. 

There was another nervous moment for the Stan in 39 minutes when a home ball went across the goal & was put out for a corner. The ball from the corner hit the far post & was cleared by a defender who also unavoidably collided with the advancing Stephenson. When play resumed, a long ball on the left to Lamb saw him supply Stephenson who went over on his ankle & had to be replaced by Hopper. Before Hopper could enter the pitch, Lashley supplied Bisset, who looked lively on his debut, but was blocked. 

In the 47th minute, the Stan were level when Slaughter advanced & supplied Lamb on the left who blasted the ball into the net just before the half time whistle.

Both teams restarted trying to attack but it was Newton who took the lead in 51 minutes when an attack was initially blocked on the line then forced into the net. Again, there were calls for off side which was not the case with the later goals. 

After a quieter period, the Stan stepped up a gear & Hopper shot over under pressure although he continued to cause trouble including winning a corner. From the corner in 62 minutes, which was taken by Cassidy, the ball was initially headed in & down towards the home goal by a home player which allowed Shepherd to tap the ball into the net for 2-2. 

In 66 minutes though, Newton were back in front when a player shot from the edge of the box & beat Purvis. They went 2 ahead in 69 minutes when the ball was lobbed into the left-hand side of the net. There was then more pressure from the home side until the Stan managed to attack again in 80 minutes which saw Hopper cut into the box from the left & shoot into the far corner of the net. 

After a quieter few minutes, Newton forced a catch from Purvis & in 85 minutes Bisset suppled the advancing Burn, but he couldn’t get his foot to the ball. Purvis had to catch again although both teams were threatening. In 90 minutes, a home attack was cleared twice & then another attack was blocked in the Stan box. 

In 93 minutes, Hopper headed from a free kick but the home keeper got down to grab the ball. In the 94th & last minute, Purvis cleared a home effort but the player went back in towards him & shot to the keeper’s right for 5-3 to Newton Aycliffe.

Despite a competitive match & a never say die approach from the Stan, a good Newton Aycliffe team eventually ran out winners but the Stan can keep their heads held high. The Stan now welcome Sunderland RCA on Saturday 18 February.

Heaton Stannington: Purvis, Turnbull J. , Stephenson (Hopper 45), Turnbull M. ,Watson, Shepherd (C), Cassidy (Burn 75), Slaughter, Lamb, Bisset, Lashley (Cowburn 85).

Unused Subs: Walker, Proctor.

Goals: Lamb 45 (+2), Shepherd 62, Hopper 80.

Yellow Cards: Slaughter, Watson, Turnbull.

Supporters Man Of The Match: 

Referee: D. Carr.

Assistants: A. Sparrow-Woods, C. Royal.

Attendance: 265.

Venue: Moore Lane Park, Newton Aycliffe Sports Club, Moore Lane, Newton Aycliffe, Co. Durham DL5 5AG.

Kevin Mochrie